Monday, June 18, 2018

T Stands for Tuesday & Flowers and Journal Page

Hello Everyone,  
   Another T Stands For Tuesday is upon us. Hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth (link in my right hand column) where we share a drink related post. You are most welcome to join us just show us a photo of your beverage in your post.

   Saturday morning early, I went out in the garden to do a thorough watering and pull a few weeds. I ended up working til noon. My main veggie garden is just  dying. Don't know if it is the intense heat we are having daily or if there is something off in the garden soil again-probably a bit of both. Sadly I have lost most of my indigo plants and what is growing is really small. I think I am going to need to get a bale of peat moss and mix it in the soil again to loosen it up more. It does have lots of compost and such in it but the base here is heavy clay and rock. We have lived here since the end of '03 but I always forget that this soil needs lime added every year-it must just leach out through the rocky soil or something. I remembered early winter and put some on it then so perhaps didn't have enough time before spring-although I did plant late this year. anyways the main garden will be a bust-hopefully I will get a few cucumbers, perhaps a cabbage, and some beans I may try a fall garden this year.
   The zinnia area is beginning to bloom and the perennial sunflower is beginning to bloom too-so far the deer have not bothered it or found it-(smiles) It is stunted from the freezes last April- only half the height it should be. I have flowers though this year-happy dance. The deer love love sunflowers








Trumpet Vines just beginning to bloom






Our mimosa trees are blooming---so time to harvest the leaves for the most clear yellows I have found from a natural dye stuff. I learned about this from the natural dye book by Liles- I have a pretty large library of natural dye books and this in my opinion is the best one out there.  So many natural dye books have lovely photos but are very very vague with the information you need. This one is detailed.

 



Once dry just strip the little leaves off the stems



      Sunday I decided to take the day off and work on my wool pages- fabric art journal. My muse must have been with me as my ceiling florescent light turned on this morning in my craft room. (I have my art journal posts labeled as fabric art journal-so if you want to see more you can search under that label)

   I made a little video of my April page so far.


  
I was browsing online to learn a bit about tea bag art over the weekend-as I have been amazed with the art that many of you have created and shared. I thought perhaps I could do something with them for the atc swap with Elizabeth. Found this artist and thought the works were just so amazing and inspirational and I love it too that the tea bag tags were left on allot of them   Ruby Silivous.  I am no painter though. Are any of you familiar with this artist's work?

  I have been drinking more waters this past week-citrus waters, fruit juice and sparkling waters, water with fresh mint leaves, also a coke zero once in awhile-I rarely drink any soft drinks except in the summer  Thought I would try this one since there is no caffeine in it and compared to others low in sodium no sugar. Pretty nice for a treat over ice and I think a scoop of vanilla ice cream would be good too.😃

  This Monday morning as I finish up my T post I am enjoying a cup of roasted dandelion-chicory root naturally decaf beverage with cream in my favorite Yellowstone National Park cup




I am hoping Mother Nature is being kind where you live. Oh and I almost forgot I wanted to mention those of you that only visit on Tuesdays and wish to see my hemp handmade papers-I posted three blog posts find the first one here and then just continue to the next two posts-I am very happy with them-and learned mostly I needed to cut the hemp fibers as small as I can possibly get them

Happy T Stands for Tuesday










35 comments:

  1. Your garden is looking good. I'm always amazed at how many projects you manage to get done. Have a great week and happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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    1. thank you Valerie, right now I feel behind with things though
      I think getting that other deep freezer will be today's project
      hugs

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  2. Kathy, your garden looks great compared to a lot of others. The flowers are lovely! There are a lot of mimosa trees here, but not on our property. The closest thing in leaves to mimosa for us are wild ferns in our woods. I’ve harvested and put aside branches of those to dry. I don’t know about dyeing with their leaves, but making paper pulp is my thought. Glad you are getting back to your journal. I know the work of Ruby Silivous. You can see a lot of it in the teabag art Facebook group, I used to belong to that. Your voice on the video is so peaceful and soothing! I don’t paint on teabags like she does, I like to just use the lines left by the tea itself, bring them out and see what they resemble. My next journal page has one of those renderings on it. I’ll get it posted soon. The weather here today will be brutal, totally horrid with heat and humidity. Off I go from one air conditioner to another!

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  3. Happy Early T day Kathy!!!

    Yeah for flowers!!! So sorry to hear about your gardening woes though... My go to recipe for planting is a 1/3 of the original soil, 1/3 peat moss, and a 1/3 Garden soil... I'm a huge fan of Miracle Gro... I have used that 'recipe' in TX (where i learned of it), CA and now AR and it seems to work well.. Ofcourse i have not used it in the planting of a Veggie garden just individual plants..

    I hope i have a few Mimosa trees in my future... My Grandparents had one in Florida for years then it died and my Grandpa said it was because they get a '10 yr Blight'...?? I wonder if they've remedied that??

    And i've been in love with your Yellowstone mug since the day you first showed it! I drink waaay too many of the Cherry Coke Zeros....lol Working on my ATC's too... I decided to try heat embossing for the first time... Its been a little frustrating but fun too! Hugs! deb

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    1. Hi Deb, that is a good recipe and i love miracle grow too and use the big bags of it in the garden and raised beds and big pots. I hope you get a mimosa tree-I had never seen one before and this one is right by the side of the house-I had to find out what it was lol I love the fragrance too-they are a messy tree the limbs break off and they replant themselves everywhere.
      I have never tried heat embossing either-always fun to learn new things.
      happy early t day hugs

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  4. Your garden looks so lush and happy with the pop of color from the zinnias. Happy your craft light cooperated with you and your fabric journal is wonderful. I loved seeing the deer and other wildlife. Have a Happy T Day!

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    1. thanks CJ this are does look lush and filled in-will beautiful when all blooming and the butterflies find it Happy T Day

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  5. I can't believe how much your garden has filled out since you last showed it. It is amazing. Sorry about the indigo plants. I use lots of compost in my garden and I also mulch my flower bed every autumn. The soil is now so soft, you would never know it had been this hard clay when I first started planting in it.

    I had a mimosa tree in MO, but they don't seem to grow further north in south central KS. It's amazing what a few miles south makes for plants and flowers.

    I enjoyed your video, but I couldn't hear you, so had to use the CC feature and read what you were saying.

    I find lots of those natural dye recipes lacking, and often confusing, too. My problem is, I prefer mottled dyeing, so often don't want the fabric, lace, or yarn to be evenly dyed.

    Yes, I've seen that artist's tea bag art and have the site bookmarked from years ago. However, I think you can achieve the same (or similar effects using stamps. A FABULOUS artist who uses the round tea bags is Allison:

    https://craftytrog.blogspot.com/

    Do a search for her 368 Somethings. Each week she makes seven teabags that are a series. Each series is different, and I am always impressed.

    I also love your Yellowstone mug, but found the Left Field Farms jug was hilarious. That cow was a hoot. Thanks for sharing your art, your garden, and your drink with us for T this week.

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  6. So sad to lose so much of your garden and hard work, Kathy. It was much easier to grow things in WI, despite the long cold winters. Better soil I guess.

    I enjoyed your video. When you said "but I think it will be alright" I thought of how often I dislike parts of a piece I'm working on and how magically it all comes together in the end. You have so many interesting elements on this page. It will be quite a conversation piece.

    Love that mug!

    Happy T-Day! Hugs, Eileen

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    1. Yes the upper midwest has perfect soil for growing things-I was born and brought up in Northern Indiana, went to a couple years college in northern Wisconsin, and lived in Norther Illinois along the Wisconsin border for many years with my husband-when we moved down here-the soil to me was the worse I had ever come across-I named it Missouri concrete ha ha
      thanks for visiting-yes in the end the art elements do seem to come together for us\ Happy T Day

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  7. Your garden does look vibrant and green with lovely flowers in the photos. Gardens are hard work no matter how big or small they are and we all have areas that fail us and don't do so well.
    Thank you for sharing the video of your fabric work and I am smiling now after seeing the cow with the cup on its head beside your cuppa of the day.
    Happy Tuesday wishes Kathy.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. Hi Yvonne, thanks about the gardens-I am happy I was able to get rid of most of the invasive weeds in the zinnia area. I think that area loves these hot and humid days
      that cream is my new brand now love the cow too always makes me laugh in the mornings lol
      Happy T Day

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  8. In case I confused you AND others, I have answered your question about the week we exchange ATCs on my blog. The short answer is 4 weeks, if I added correctly.

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  9. I can just imagine the time and labor you put into everything you do from cooking to art to gardening, etc. We had a mimosa tree and I loved that tree the best. Unfortunately a storm caused it to break and thus killed it:(. Will go and check your handmade paper posts. Just too hard to keep up with everyone anymore...
    happy T Day!

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    1. Hi Linda, I hope you are able to plant a new mimosa tree-they are a lovely fragrant tree.
      I agree there is only so many hours in a day-and we can't be on the computer all day either. tuesday is my main visiting day now
      Happy T Day

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  10. It's got to be hot because so many plants just love the heat.And it is still only June. What happens by August? But you should have a lot to play with the various plants to dye with. I'm curious to see what you get for results. Hope you have a super T day. Hugs-Erika

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    1. we really need rain, as things are burning up here-I water the flowers a couple days a week mimosa gives such a lovely yellow I like to have the dried leaves available
      Happy T Day

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  11. If I thought for a moment that a cup of roasted dandelion chicory root would give me the energy you have, I would be all about it! I am so enjoying your art and keep wondering how you do so much. Your gardens look lush and beautiful despite the heat. It looks like the weather here in the Ozarks may be improving a bit this week...keeping our fingers crossed, for sure!

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    1. ha ha this month I have had to force myself to accomplish something every day-the heat and humidity is too much for me this year and I haven't been feeling my best since end of May.
      I was able to save the zinnia area with the weeding of those wild thistles and I try to water a couple times a week.
      hoping we get some of that rain that is suppose to come through tomorrow. Hope you get some relief in the weather too-hugs

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  12. The pictures you did post of your garden are looking very lush and green. It's very hot here and everything is so very dusty. Love seeing the process of your monthly fabric layouts. I'm amazed at the tea bag art I have come across. Going now to check out your hemp paper. My Colorado boy was working in on a hemp farm during his last semester of college and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, he quit when he moved to the Denver area and now is still looking for a job.

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    1. thanks Tammy-this area is pretty nice, I had to keep at the weeding til the flowers grew larger and I water a couple times a week-with no rain here. that would have been an interesting job working on a hemp farm thanks from dropping by Tammy

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  13. Your garden is just so beautiful - you are such a busy woman on all sides - wow. Loved your video! Yes I know this artist,she even has published a book- very interesting! I painted some teabag paintings already, mostly faces, but as Elizabeth suggested - you can also take stamps or sew or collage them.
    Alison as E. told you and I am with E. , is just an awesome source of ideas for decorating teabags!
    Yuu have to visit her blog to get inspired!
    Happy T-Day!
    Hugs, Susi

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    1. thank you Susi- I am off to visit her blog-she sounds very inspiring. the tea bag art is really amazing to me
      Happy T Dau

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  14. i love all the flowers in your garden (so sad for the Indigo, but i think they are a bit picky to grow...). i think i never saw mimosa out of botanical gardens, they have so beautiful delicate leaves.
    and i LOVED the Video about your fabric Journal so much!! haha, time consuming, of course! love the stampings and the tickets are gorgeous. may i give you a hint i got from a friend concerning tearing handmade papers... i draw a line with a fine watered brush, let the water soak in a bit and voila, you can tear there quite easily. i like this look because the fibers come out quite organic looking.
    have a great week ahead and happy t-day ♥

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    1. thank you so much for the tip on tearing on the handmade papes I will remember that
      a couple years ago I grew beautiful indigo plants but they were not getting enough sun-so they didn't get to the point for dyeing so I think too they are pretty picky
      have awesome week ahead too

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  15. Wow, you garden is looking so lovely with those colourful zinnia flowers and pretty blooms! I so enjoyed seeing your fabric pages too, all the details with the stitching and embellishments look so beautiful - I love it 😁. Wishing you the happiest of T Days! J 😊 x

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  16. I'm sorry about your garden :( Indigo sounds like a fun thing to plant. I'm a huge zinnia fan, but I didn't have the heart to plant any this year. The past several years the chipmunks and birds eat the seeds, and what few survive that don't survive the continued digging :( Your sunflower looks like mine, which originally came from Humboldt, TN. I'll cut it back soon, and it'll bloom in the fall. I've always liked Mimosa trees, those delicate pink flowers and ferny leaves, but they are such a pest with their aggressive spreading ways.... But I didn't know they provided such a good dye color :) Happy T Tuesday!

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    1. good morning yes the mimosa is a very aggressive plant and they get such a deep root system so fast too-I have several I need to cut way back to the ground again-but its just been too hot here this month. bummer about your wildlife eating your flower seeds I haven't had that problem-so far that is ha ha I will cut my sunflower back then too after flowering and see what happens thanks for that Happy T Day

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  17. I just love your flowers. They are looking beautiful. My sun flowers have not bloomed yet, soon I hope. All the other flowers are in bloom. I don't do veggies just mostly perenial flowers but I do know that the soil out here needs lots of lime every year. We have the rocky clay thing too.
    Have a great week.

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    1. Hi Susan so happy you dropped by for a visit. this is about the only thing here that looks lush and pretty-the zinnia patch-its been too hot here for the rest of things. I have amended this area quite allot but it still needs more you have a great week as well hugs

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  18. Your flowers are beautiful! I am so sorry that your vegetable garden is dying. I have had some issues with my soil as we have a lot of clay. That is so disappointing when you put time and money into a garden. I hope you are able to sort it out for next year.
    I loved seeing your hemp paper. It turned out beautifully. Are you going to try colors?
    Happy Tea day,
    Kate

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    1. Hi Kate, yes I am going to experiment with eco dye and see how it goes with just a couple of the papers.

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  19. I enjoyed your video and look forward to seeing it completely finished. I like all your elements you have layed out. It is interesting that you have your drink in a Yellowstone cup, because on my blog I posted several pages done of our Yellowstone trip we took in 1990! I know I am really behind! Happy T Day!

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    1. Good evening, I dropped by your blog post that was allot of pages to complete-so nice to get all that done-I am always behind with my crafts and art lol
      Happy T Day hugs

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